If you’re pursuing a personal injury settlement, it’s important to know how the payment of medical bills can impact your finances in the future. At Johnson and Taylor, our personal injury lawyers in Salem help clients throughout the state of Oregon understand how medical bills and other damages are paid after an accident and provide the compassionate legal support you need to get through challenging times.
Understanding Damages in a Personal Injury Settlement
A personal injury settlement compensates a party who has suffered harm or losses after an accident. Typically, damages in a personal injury settlement are paid by the negligent party’s insurance company. A personal injury settlement usually includes compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages specific to the circumstances. In some cases, future medical costs and wage loss may also be included.
Types of Medical Bills in Personal Injury Settlements
Medical expenses are often a significant component of personal injury settlements and include costs such as:
- Emergency room visits
- Ambulance and other transportation costs
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Medications
- Diagnostic tests
- Physical therapy
- Doctor visits
- Assistive devices
- Any other injury-related medical treatments
Our personal injury lawyers in Oregon fight to ensure you recover enough compensation to cover all past, current, and future medical expenses related to your injury.
Are You Obligated to Pay Medical Bills from Your Personal Injury Settlement?
In most cases involving vehicles, the insurance company of the vehicle you were in pays medical bills through Personal Injury Protection (PIP). The amount PIP pays is determined by the insurance policy. Sometimes the medical bills will exceed the available PIP. Our attorneys will look at possible additional PIP policies and help to figure out whether your health insurance must pay some of the remaining bills.
In some cases, an injured party may have to pay any unpaid medical bills from a portion of their personal injury settlement, but each circumstance is unique. Healthcare providers may place a lien on your settlement to ensure they receive payment. If you used your health insurance to pay for any of your accident-related medical treatment, the insurance company may also place a lien on your settlement or bring a subrogation claim to collect medical expenses from the at-fault party’s insurer.
If Medicare or Medicaid covered your medical expenses, they also have a legal right to collect injury-related costs from your settlement. Failure to reimburse them can result in significant legal and financial consequences. Your personal injury attorney can explain how this process works, protect your rights, and negotiate with insurers and healthcare providers to reduce the amount you must pay for your medical bills.
Negotiating Payment for Medical Bills
Negotiating medical liens or subrogation claims can significantly maximize the net amount you receive from your settlement. Some medical providers may agree to a reduced amount if the payment is from a personal injury settlement, especially if you’re facing financial hardship or if you’ve been a longtime patient.
Negotiations with insurance companies can be complex and contentious, so it’s essential to have one of our personal injury lawyers represent your interests. Oregon law also offers certain protections for personal injury victims, and there may be programs or provisions that can help reduce repayments to Medicare or Medicaid.
It’s also important to note that Oregon law uses a modified comparative fault rule, which means your settlement amount can be reduced by your percentage of fault in the injury. It’s vital to have a personal injury attorney who knows how to gather effective evidence and put it all together to prove fault. Our Salem personal injury lawyers are well-versed in the state and federal laws and regulations that may apply to your case.
Other Considerations
Navigating the intricacies of a personal injury settlement in Oregon can be stressful, and calculating future medical expenses can be challenging if you’re unfamiliar with the process. Our accident attorneys know how to accurately value your claim. They may negotiate a higher settlement to maximize the final amount of compensation you receive. This ensures all your medical expenses are covered and you receive adequate compensation for other damages such as pain and suffering.
We help you understand the differences between lump sum and structured personal injury settlements, which can be helpful for injured victims who require long-term medical care. We use our experience and knowledge to protect you from potential pitfalls throughout the claims process.
Most personal injury claims are settled out of court. However, if a fair settlement agreement cannot be reached, our personal injury lawyers may take your case to trial.
Trust Our Personal Injury Lawyers to Offer Straightforward Legal Advice
Understanding the role of medical bills in your personal injury settlement is vital. Unlike many larger personal injury law firms, we don’t overpromise or guarantee results just to get clients. We explain the realistic possibilities for recovering compensation so you can make informed decisions. Our team helps you understand your options and handles all aspects of your case so you and your family can focus on healing. Our personal injury lawyers serve clients in Salem, Eugene, Bend, the Oregon Coast, Medford, and throughout the state of Oregon. We also litigate cases involving divorce and family law and estate planning and probate.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers in Salem, Oregon
If you’re wondering whether you have to pay your medical bills from a personal injury settlement, you don’t have to go it alone. Our team at Johnson and Taylor helps you understand your rights and maximize your settlement so you can protect your family’s financial stability. Contact us or call 503-990-6641 to schedule a consultation with a personal injury attorney in Salem today. Members of our team provide our Spanish-speaking with the quality legal representation they deserve.